Clasp for wrist-watch straps



July 9, 1929.

A. PERSON CLASP FOR WRIST -WATCH STRAPS Filed May 5, 1927 INVENTORATTORNEY Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,719,849 PATENT" OFFICE.

AXEL PERSON, F ATTLEBOR, MASSACHUSETTS, `ASSIGrIHlR T0 HARVEY vOLAP8600., OF ATTIiEIBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A PARTNERSHIP.

`CLiASP FOR WRIST-WATCH STRATS.

Application led May 3, 1927. Serial No. 188,444.

This invention relates to clasps for wrist watch straps and the like.One of the objects thereof is to provide a device of the above naturewhich is thoroughly practical and efficient. Another object is toprovide a device of the above nature which is neat andattractive inappearance and free from objectionable projecting parts or edges.Another object is to provide a device of the above nature which issimple in construction and capable of being manufactured convenientlyand at low cost. Other objects will be in part obvious or in partpointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangementsof parts as will beyexemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scopeof t-he application of which will be indicated in the following claims.j

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of the variouspossible cmbodi ments of this invention,

Figure l is a side elevation showing the clasp 'in connection with awrist watch and stra Figure 2 is a top plan view of one of theseparable'parts of the clasp;

Ffgure 3 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is atop plan view of another part;

Figure 5 is a plan view showing the clasp operative, and

Figure 6 is a section taken substantially as indicated by the line 6--6of Figure 5.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Referring now to Figure 1 o-f the drawing, there is shown a wrist watch10 having a pair of brackets 11 and 12 for connection with a bracelet orstrap or other suitable means for encircling the wrist and holding thewrist Watch in position. The wrist encircling means shown hereinconsists of a strap or ribbon 13 which is secured at one end 14 to thebracket 11 of the wrist watch and thence passes about the wrist, loopingthrough the bracket 12.

Positioned upon the strap or ribbon 13 between its end 14 and theportion which passes through the bracket 12, is one member of the clasp.This clasp member comprises a rectangular shaped frame member 15consisting of side walls 15a and 15b and end walls 15c and 15". Therectangular member 15 is made from one integral piece of metal and ispreferably stamped from` a sheet metal blank in the shape shown, by theuse of dies. Extend- .ing between the side walls 15L and 15b and securedat its ends to these side walls is a member 16 which consists of a hatnarrow strip ofy spring metal. As is shown in Figure 3, and more clearlyin Figure 6, this member 16 is preferably secured at its ends to the endwalls 15a and 15b of the frame member by beingl bent around the outeredges of these walls and up against the bottom surfaces thereof, thewalls 15 and 15" being `thus clamped by the end portions of the springmember 16. Preferably the parts 15it and 15b are recessed inwardlyfrointheir outer edges, as may be seen in Figure 2, so that the surfacesof these parts and the surface of the member 16 rest substantially flushat the sides of the device.

The spring metal member 16 adjacent its middle portion is provided withan upwardly extending part 16a which` is integral with the member` 16and is formed by bending the member transversely of its length therebyforming an upwardly projecting loop having a rounded and closed upperend. As clearly seen in Figurel 3 and in Figure 6, the loop 16EL is ofincreasing width from its bottom portion upwardly. y

lThe strap or ribbon 13 passes over the end Walls 15c and 15d of theframe 15 and loops beneath the member 16. The clasp member is thusmounted upon the ribbon and may be slid along the ribbon to any desiredposition in order to vary the effective length of the ribbon.

Secured to the end 17 of the strap or ribbon is a member 18 in the formof a flat plate which has therein a slot 19 serving as a means forconnecting thereto the ribbon end. In this member 18 is formed arectangular opening 20 into which the loop or projection 16 is adaptedto snap. In Figures 5 and 6 the clasp is shown operative and it will beseen that the opening 26 is of such width that when the loop 16 issnapped thereinto the plate member 18 is yieldingly held in positionthereby.l The member 18 is of sufficient size lengthwise of the strap orribbon to overlap the end walls 15c and 15x of the under frame and tendsto hold the ribbon clamped against these walls to effect a bindingaction which resists any tendency for the under llO frame to slip alongthe ribbon when the clasp is operative. The clasp is convenientlydetached by raising one side of the plate member 18 thereby slightlydistorting the spring member 16 to effect removal of the part 16 fromthe opening 20.

This construction thus fully utilizes the resilience of the relativelylong spring memberv 16 in making and breaking the connection. Moreover,it will be noted that the pull upon the clasp is taken by the projection16a in a direction parallel to the width of the spring member so thatmaximum strength is achieved. The closed loop 16a projecting through theopening 20 presents no objectionable edges which might catch in theclothing of the wearer.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and asmany changes mightbe made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to beunderstood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting SGIISG.

I claim as my invention: l. In a clasp for wrist watch stra-ps, 1n

combination, a frame having end walls and c `stripvextendingtherebetween in spaced relation to said end walls, the wrist watch strapbeing adapted to pass over said end walls and beneath said springmember, said spring member being bent transversely ot its length formingan upstanding loop adjacent its middle portion, the two sides of saidloop being movable freely relative to each other at the base in adirection substantially at right angles to said side walls and a platemember adapted to be secured to an end of the strap and having anopening into which said loop snaps.

2. In a clasp for wrist watch straps, in combination, a substantiallyrectangular frame member, a separate strip of spring metal secured atits ends to the sides ot said frame member and extending therebetween inspaced relation to the ends of said frame member, the wrist watch strapbeing adapted to pass over the ends of said framel and beneath saidspring member, said spring member being shaped at substantially itsmiddle portion to form an upstanding inverted U- shaped loop havingdownwardly converging sides slightly spaced apart where they join thebase ofthe spring member and open ends, and a plate member adapted to besecured to an end of the strap and having an opening into which saidloop snaps, whereby said loop offers unyielding resistance todisengagement from said plate along the line of full of the bracelet andyielding resistance in a crosswise direction.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification thistwenty-lirst day ot' April, 1927.

AXEL PERSON.

